Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I certainly do not want to induce any heart attack for the Deputy. I want to assist the committee in any way possible. As far as the coroners (amendment) Bill is concerned, we are making progress, albeit at a pace that is regrettable. This is taking considerably longer than I anticipated. I may have been speaking about this issue to the committee previously. It was my intention that the Bill would be ready by now.

However, it is not true to say we are where we were a year go, because we are not. We have made a lot of progress. My office briefed the Deputy's office on the issue yesterday. There was a further engagement last Friday, when departmental officials met officials from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. There are outstanding drafting issues. I am keen to receive a full third draft as quickly as possible to allow us to proceed to publication. There is no lack of intent or willingness on my part or on the part of the Department. As the Deputy will appreciate, this has proven to be a complex issue. I hope we can report greater progress over the coming weeks before the end of the Dáil term, if that can be used as a benchmark.

I was in contact with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel recently to discuss the Judicial Council Bill 2017. It is intended that amendments of a pretty reformative nature in the Seanad will improve that Bill substantially. I am keen to report progress on that. I ask committee members to bear in mind that there is significant legislative activity.

I would like to mention in passing something that relates directly to the issues we are discussing. I received approval yesterday to proceed with legislation that will facilitate a constitutional amendment on the matter of blasphemy. In the normal course of events, I would expect to make that legislation available for pre-legislative scrutiny. In the circumstances, the committee might consider a waiver. I would be keen for the relevant Bill to be published, debated in plenary session of the Dáil and the Seanad and enacted before the recess to facilitate strict statutory deadlines. I am flagging it with the committee and I do not want an answer now. I would appreciate it if the committee would consider my request. If pre-legislative scrutiny is required, I would be happy to agree an early date between now and 13 July to facilitate that.

I have mentioned the Department's unprecedented volume of legislation not as a defence or an excuse, but as a reason. This legislation is compounded by the amount of work being done by Parliament under new politics in respect of Private Members' Bills, all of which I welcome but I do so in the knowledge that it presents a challenge. Deputy Jack Chambers has been the architect of many positive submissions. All of this work presents a challenge for me, for the Office of the Attorney General and for the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I acknowledge that the coroners' (amendment) Bill is a priority. I hope we can do something in the next four weeks.